I felt mentioning the other issues employers are facing in China redundant as Reinhold had already addressed them earlier in the thread, so I thought I would mention an issue which is a daily concern for us. We have 12 Chinese support staff at our school. 5 are currently pregnant or on maternity leave. Only one of those is a first child.

I don't have nationwide statistics as a lowly teacher, but my weekly dinner routine nowadays consists of sitting at a table of managers who are in production of garments and fabrics (trained female work) are figuratively sh**ing kittens about not being able to get enough product out, while the heavy industrial and engineering managers (male industry) are sitting over the other side of the table pointing fingers and laughing at them.

This may only be a Chengdu issue, but I doubt it. Whichever town specialises in the creation of tiny plastic spaceships (there will be one, with over a million people in it) will likely be facing similar issues, as well as a host of others aforementioned.

So next time you claim someone is "Blaming the slowdown in Armada on pregnant Chinese women", perhaps you can give a thought to the world outside your gaming table, and the incredibly complex global process that goes into the creation of your toys. There are incredibly powerful men whose name you could not pronounce, who make minor policy decisions that have an effect on the balance of supply and demand of materials, labour and transport that go into the creation of a product such as FFG's. Focusing on ridiculing an aspect of this process that you had not previously recognised as important is about as inappropriate as claiming that FFG should discount their products because of the low oil price.

If you want to focus on something truly ridiculous: When I buy an FFG model, it goes China - USA - Europe - China, and that is cheaper than me being able to simply buy it in the country in which it is made. We live in a brave new world

Everything is part of an insidious plot, seemingly masterminded by the Lizard-Queen Elizabeth II.....

Fixed that for you.

But do you have anything concrete to suggest FFG is in any way inconvenienced by any of this? China is a pretty big place, with a pretty massive production base.

Post started out as wondering about whether Armada will continue to go in a carrier fleet direction or swing back to being more ship v ship and now has become Chinese Microeconomics.

This thread is alllllll the way off the rails.

This thread is alllllll the way off the rails.

Way to go ahead and make it about trains, as if we weren't ALREADY far enough off topic. Jeez, people.

This thread is alllllll the way off the rails.

Way to go ahead and make it about trains, as if we weren't ALREADY far enough off topic. Jeez, people.

Did you see Ozzy is going to be starring in a new reality TV Show?

On the History Channel.

About him traveling over the world with his son learning about world history.

Don't tell me you won't watch that show, it's gonna be a freakin' goldmine.

Really? Blaming the slowdown in Armada on pregnant Chinese women....

Wow...

I just... don't even know how to respond to this...

Flippantly rephrasing the idea to make it sound ridiculous doesn't make it any less valid. Sometimes social and economic factors have unexpected far-reaching second- and third-order effects like this.

I know virtually nothing about this kind of thing personally, and really have no strong opinion either way, but I do know that D503 lives and works in China, so 1) he has a much better perspective on the goings-on over there than most of us here, and 2) he's not just making wild-ass ignorant claims.

D503 is sort of our resident Chinese expert if you will. Having been Naval Intelligence on a few WESTPAC's (pacific deployments) that D503 is actually on base with these facts. We are talking about a change that is what, 7 months old or so. This means that production is a bit lower than normal. There are also other economic changes being sought after to make work life there a bit nicer which is increasing costs.

Add onto this that Armada is not top priority and we get a good picture of whats going on.

Hear is a report from last year on this issues in fact. http://www.worldfinance.com/markets/a-tough-road-ahead-for-chinas-manufacturing-industry

But do you have anything concrete to suggest FFG is in any way inconvenienced by any of this? China is a pretty big place, with a pretty massive production base.

If you want something concrete from FFG, go ask them. I don't work for them, but I do work in China, and I do see the results of the horrorshow that is China's demographics around me every day.

Interestingly enough, May 16th (2 days ago) was the 50th anniversary of the start of the Cultural Revolution. Bear that in mind when you look at the chart.

I think the Ghost and the Lambda would be great medium based ships. ahem. I'm calling it: next wave will have the Ghost and the Lamb. Worry not. All will be well.

And, for what it's worth, I am ignoring the geo-politics, the reality step to sobriety (again) and maintaining my perfect track record for calling it. Ghost and Lamb 2016. *drops mike*

RC out.

And, for what it's worth, I am ignoring the geo-politics, the reality step to sobriety (again) and maintaining my perfect track record for calling it. Ghost and Lamb 2016. *drops mike*

RC out.

Bearing in mind that the Ghost and Lamb would probably be unpainted models (looks like Gozantis and GR-75s will be), then that fits with D503's assessment; the output for pre-painted models being down, but unpainted not a problem.

I think the Ghost and the Lambda would be great medium based ships. ahem. I'm calling it: next wave will have the Ghost and the Lamb. Worry not. All will be well.

I do, however, doubt they'll be medium bases. That would suggest they were bigger ships than the CR90 or Raider - you only have to look at an X-wing Miniatures game to see that they're much smaller.

I think they might put them in as squadrons, or as a new unit that's something between a squadron and a flotilla. Maybe a squadron with limited upgrade capacity? Not sure, but I do think we'll get them at some point.

I think wave 4 will tie in with Rogue 1 and, given that we've seen some new ships for that (U-wings and TIE Strikers), I'm even more confident. If U-wings are troop carriers, then the idea of them and Lambdas being in the same wave seems sensible. In which case we may see the Ghost and Tie Strikers as similar equivalents.

Bearing in mind that the Ghost and Lamb would probably be unpainted models (looks like Gozantis and GR-75s will be), then that fits with D503's assessment; the output for pre-painted models being down, but unpainted not a problem.

That said, I doubt they'll me medium-sized.

With the potential prospect of U-wings and Lambdas, I can see wave 4 as being the first in which we see the introduction of boarding actions. I think we could see a "Carrier" keyword added to those squadrons, in which critical hits against a ship allow them to place a boarding action token. This token might mean that, at the start of each round, after command dials have been set, the player may roll a blue dice that resolves certain effects. An accuracy could allow you to exhaust a defence token on that ship; a hit could allow you to do one damage to a shield of your choice; and a crit could do one face down damage card. In their defence, your opponent could possibly also roll a blue dice, on which an accuracy would prevent you from resolving that effect. With only six rounds, I think that this would not be too overpowered (bearing in mind the carrier has to get to the ship before it can carry out boarding actions), and would add a fun and interesting added dynamic.

My bet would be on a 'rebels' themed boxed set, like the recently announced TFA millennium falcon box. No idea what would be in it, but Ghost would be on a squadron base and likely be balanced by the inquisitor's TIE fighter.

It'll be two fighter packs; released to a chorus of "Armada is dying!", "FFG doesn't care!", and "I quit!" posts.

Followed by a long list of threads about how stoked we all are about this new wave, and how it's really going to change the meta.

Immediately followed by "what will be in wave 5?"

but thats ok, I am oc also interested whats in store for us in the long run. Did I say "Tie Defender" lately?

There are several choices for Cap ships from Rebels:

Imperial Cargo Ship

http://starwarsrebels.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Cargo_Ship

Imperial Interdictor

http://starwarsrebels.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Interdictor

Imperial Light Carrier

http://starwarsrebels.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Light_Carrier

Imperial Light Cruiser

http://starwarsrebels.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Light_Cruiser

Hammerhead Corvette

http://starwarsrebels.wikia.com/wiki/Hammerhead_Corvette

Pelta Frigate

http://starwarsrebels.wikia.com/wiki/Pelta-class_Frigate

The Hammerhead and Pelta would make good light or Flotilla expansions

The Imp-Light Cruiser would make a great Light ship, while a bunch of people would be stoked for a medium Interdictor

The Imp-Cargo is weird, and lightly armed...could be another flotilla but it's fairly big

The Imp-Carrier could go to either side. It is better know as a Rebel mainstay but is an Imperial design. Similar to the Nebulon-B, but it's triangular hull looks more Imperial.

Pelta-class frigate and Imperial light cruiser as two new, small-base ships would be really nice. Both a little smaller than a Gladiator, but not by much. As an Imperial player, I'd like to see the light cruiser as something a bit more versatile than either a Gladiator or a Raider; similar speed to the Gladiator, but more manoeuvrable, and with long-medium-range guns rather than primarily close-range.

I would like to see another medium imperial ship though.

I would like to see another medium imperial ship though.

Interdictor?

I've been hoping for a third faction, or truly "rogue" ships and squadrons that could be used by either faction. Does anyone think that the game will be developed enough after wave IV to allow for that?

And as far as other ship releases, I'm a longtime player of "Empire at War," and the expansion. I like the idea of marauders (selective long range AS firepower to counter Rhymer) and corellian gunships. I want more ships from that game (which others have been mentioning throughout this thread). Especially a scum and villainy faction. The consortium ships were the coolest

I've been hoping for a third faction, or truly "rogue" ships and squadrons that could be used by either faction. Does anyone think that the game will be developed enough after wave IV to allow for that?

And as far as other ship releases, I'm a longtime player of "Empire at War," and the expansion. I like the idea of marauders (selective long range AS firepower to counter Rhymer) and corellian gunships. I want more ships from that game (which others have been mentioning throughout this thread). Especially a scum and villainy faction. The consortium ships were the coolest

I can see it happening in future, but think it might be a few waves away. I'd be excited if it did though!

While having a Scum faction might end up being cool, it just seems to me like it would be the publishers pandering to the popularity vote. Like when the Pirates of the Carribean movies went from being about Will and Elizabeth to being about Jack Sparrow just because people liked him way more. Like way way more. Sometimes what is the popular choice, is not always the right one, nor the one that makes the most sense for the medium.

In the case of Armada, the medium is the stately yet high stakes combat between opposing capitol ships set in the Galactic Civil War. Adding a Scum faction full of ships which in this games rough scale would be comprised of probably 80% flotilla sized craft and under does not seem to fit that medium particularly well.

Not saying it won't happen, because money and popularity, just as in Pirates of the Carribean, will still ultimately win the day. I just don't know if I'll be that happy about it if I see it.

If It happens, I know 3 things:

1) I will utilise upgrades from the set, but I doubt I will actually run a fleet.

2) I will enjoy obliterating Scum, both rebel and otherwise, with Imperial Might.

3) I will enjoy obliterating Scum, both Imperial and otherwise, with Rebel Guile.

That said, I doubt they'll me medium-sized.

(For what it's worth I was being facetious with the base size prediction.)

Huh, never thought of that. Having flotillas in the game does remarkably increase the likelihood of a scummy third faction, and this can only be a good thing.

Give me the Arquitens and the Interdictor. ALL else is secondary.